Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any characters from said story.
Sightings Chapter 2- Warm Welcome
By Onyx angel
When Sakura awoke the next morning it was to the pleasant noise of Lee's overeager voice, Gai's boisterous pitch and only one earplug in place. She promptly rolled over, away from the pair, and pretended she was still asleep.
"Gai-sensei, when should we leave for Iwagakure?"
"Soon Lee, soon, but first we must wake our sleeping comrade and prepare to depart!"
"Yes! But to rudely wake Sakura-san would initiate a bad impression of us, Gai-sensei, and Sakura-san is new to our team."
"That is true, good thinking Lee. The way to any youthful women's heart is through the subtle methods of persuasion! You have learned well!"
"Oh Gai-sensei!"
'Shut up, shut up, shut up!'
Sakura, not in the mood to be wooed so early in the morning, stuffed her face harder into her abused pillow.
"Get up," Neji nudged her slightly with his foot and continued to wrap bandage around his right arm.
"I'm up!" Sakura sat up quickly and said a hasty good morning to her companions.
"Ahh, Sakura-san good morning, we were just about to wake you. It is about an hour past dawn so we should probably leave for Iwa soon."
"Sure, thanks Lee."
Sakura yawned and proceeded to mirror the actions of her comrades, packing her things. It was early and she was tired, but pleased that they would reach Iwa by mid afternoon and, possibly, that they would be able to begin the actual mission.
Sakura shouldered her laden bag and looked to her fellow ninja.
"When do you think we'll be able to eat?"
"When we reach Iwa it is assumed that we will immediately meet with the Tsuchikage. After, we should be given some time to eat and discuss our next move."
Sakura nodded to Neji. "Sounds good."
"Ok, move out!"
It took them most of the day to reach Iwa, even traveling the most direct route. By the time they reached the Iwa gates Sakura was not the only one panting.
Although she did grudgingly notice her pants seemed slightly louder than the rest.
"Are you the ninja from Konoha?"
Sakura turned to where the condescending tone of a man had come from. He was as tall as Gai and based on the fact that he had to perform menial tasks like welcoming foreign ninja she would say he was at chuunin status.
"You don't look like much but I guess we'll see. Come with me."
Sakura bristled at the man's attitude, but followed him when he walked away without a single glance to see if they were following.
The walk to the Tsuchikage's office was short and Sakura was eager to see what type of man the Tsuchikage was.
In her studies she had read that Iwa attempted to produce hardy ninja and that their training methods were, on a scale of ruthlessness, on par or above that of Suna's. However, for whatever reason, they had never been able to turn out many ninja of very fine caliber and the strength of Iwa paled in comparison to many other ninja villages.
Nevertheless, Sakura had learned in the past that sheer ruthlessness could often win out against superior strength, earned by more wholesome methods. She did not believe in the idea of winning through underhanded means herself, but she had witnessed unfair means performed successfully in the past.
Before long their guide was knocking on the door of the Tsuchikage's office.
"Manabu-sama, I have the ninja from Konoha with me. Can we come in?" The chuunin knocked on the door again, before rubbing his head in an agitated manner.
"Not again. That stupid bitch."
Sakura had no inclination to find out what or who the he was talking about but she became worried when a loud thump was heard behind the door.
Rock Lee had, apparently, heard the noise too and spoke up. "Excuse me…….. Ah I apologize, what did you say your name was?"
The chuunin stared at Rock Lee in the same condescending manner with which he had addressed them at the gates.
"I didn't give it bowl-cut. You can call me Amachi though."
Rock Lee looked almost as displeased as Gai when he answered the man.
"Right. Amachi-san, are you sure everything is alright in there. I would not want needless harm to come to anyone when I, the most proud green beast of Konoha, could prevent it!"
"So you are as weird as you look. Anyway, what's happening in there does not concern you. You'd be best to leave it alone."
He immediately turned back to the door, eluding further questioning. He knocked once more on the door and scowled when the only answer he received was another bang followed, this time, by a whine.
Sakura nudged Neji subtly with her foot.
"Hey Neji-san, do you think you could use your Byakugan to see what's happening in there," She said gesturing slightly to the door.
His only response was the puffy veins angling from his eyes and the narrowing of said eyes.
"So what's happening?" Sakura questioned, curious despite herself.
Neji frowned back at her. "There is a man and a young girl, probably 10 or 11. The man is probably the Tsuchikage and I don't know who the girl is. They both have chakras of a similar signature so it is possible they are related. He's hurting her somehow but I can't tell exactly."
"I didn't know the Tsuchikage had a daughter."
"Nor did I, if that is in fact who she is. It was not stated in the records."
A muffled plea was heard behind the door and Sakura looked quickly to Neji and then to Amachi.
"Amachi-san a little girl is being hurt in there, why?"
Amachi looked at Sakura sharply. "Do not interfere girl. It is Iwa business."
Another pained moan and Sakura now recognized it as the voice of a young girl. The concerned medic in her took over as she punched through the door of the Tsuchikage's office.
She was surprised when she entered, followed by a protesting Amachi, to see a man holding a kunai-like object to the bloody forehead of a crying girl.
The man quickly pocketed the weapon and looked to his uninvited guests. His eyes narrowed as he stood and took a seat at the desk positioned in the middle of the room.
"Amachi are you incapable of keeping our Konoha ninja busy while I finish with some business."
Sakura stared aghast at the man who had left the poor girl on the ground in the corner. The girl had immediately curled into a ball and faced the wall.
She could barely hold herself back form telling the man heatedly why you should not beat children who were, obviously, unable to defend themselves. She did so, barely, only because she knew this man was the Tsuchikage. However, she could not hold back the urge to attend to the crying girl.
The Tsuchikage noticed and looked at her, annoyed.
"Leave her Konoha ninja, she'll be fine."
'Bastard.'
Sakura clenched her fists but retreated from the injured girl. The wound on her forehead was not fatal and Tsunade could not afford to have her apprentice messing up alliance building missions.
Neji as mission leader, and because it was likely the Tsuchikage would have no patience for the odd mannerisms of Gai or Lee choose to speak for the group.
"I apologize Manabu-sama; we did not mean to intrude. We simply heard pained noises and were concerned. Our kunoichi is a medic-nin and thought she could assist anyone in need of medical attention."
"Well there is no need for anyone to receive medical attention. Next time perhaps you could wait for me to let you in. I do not enjoy fixing that door.
Neji bowed his head respectfully but Sakura, from where she was standing, could see the slight frown of annoyance on his face as he did so. "Of course, Manabu-sama."
Manabu looked at them, seemingly annoyed by their presence, which he had requested.
"I suppose you would like to rest and eat."
"We would."
"Fine. You may do so and come to see me early tomorrow morning."
"Manabu-sama, it would be ideal for us to discuss The Akatsuki sightings in the region now so that, as soon as possible, we can begin searching them out."
"I am certain that the Akatsuki members our ninja have sighted will return."
Sakura was growing increasingly annoyed with the conversation and this man.
"How can you be sure of that? Do you know of a motive they may have for being near here?" She asked, implying that Iwa was sheltering a Jinchūriki.
Manabu looked at her coldly and Sakura had to fight to keep her gaze blank.
"The Akatsuki do have a motive for being near Iwa, kunoichi. That being said their motive concerns Iwa business that you need know very little of to investigate the Akatsuki. What you do need to know I will tell you tomorrow. Now go, you are dismissed. Amachi?"
"Yes, Manabu-sama?"
"Show our guests an inn where they can stay."
"Of course." Amachi bowed slightly to the Tsuchikage and left, but not, Sakura noticed, before casting a worried glance to the girl in the corner.
Sakura and her teammates followed him out and all were stiff with the tension of the rocky meeting.
Sakura spent a lot of time around the Hokage of Konoha and witnessed how Tsunade was treated by the people she governed. She was appreciated and respected by most, excluding Naruto.
From what Sakura had observed from Amachi's treatment of the Tsuchikage, Manabu was neither appreciated nor respected; more like feared and tolerated.
Even Rock Lee and Gai were silent as they followed the equally soundless Amachi. It did not take a genius to figure out that the meeting with the Tsuchikage had been a failure, which could jeopardize the success of the mission.
Amachi led them to a large inn a short distance away from the Tsuchikage's office.
"You can sleep here for the duration of your stay, and, if I were you, I would treat the Tsuchikage with more respect. This is not Konoha or Fire country; we abide by stricter rules."
With that said Amachi turned and walked away, glaring at Sakura in passing.
"Learn your place kunoichi!" He hissed at her under the hearing of her teammates.
Sakura's jaw dropped at his offensiveness and she immediately became angry.
"You bastard! I'll - hey Neji-san, let go. I won't hurt him too bad!"
"Stop it; we've already messed up enough tonight. Beating up an Iwa ninja won't help."
Sakura pouted but allowed herself to be restrained by the Hyuuga. She hadn't really intended to hurt the chuunin, just scare him a little.
Sakura looked around at their surroundings. The inn they had been led to was quaint and quiet from the outside but sounds that clearly gave off the presence of a bar in the inn were evident.
They entered and ordered three rooms at the front desk; one for Sakura and two others to be split up between the boys.
"I'm sorry; it seems we have only two rooms available, I hope that will suffice."
At that statement Sakura felt her hopes and dreams of a single room crash down around her. She sighed grimly as Gai accepted and paid for the rooms and felt extreme melodramatic anguish for the fact that even now, when she was on a team that mostly respected her privacy as a women, the fates were against her.
The rooms, when they reached them, were identical and small but comfortable with one bed each and a couch.
"Sakura-san, if you will allow it I would like to room with you! I will of course take the couch!"
Thinking of the snoring that had accompanied her the previous night Sakura digressed Lee's idea. Earplugs could only do so much in close quarters.
"Sorry Lee, but you snore when you sleep!"
"Alright! In accordance with our joyous snoring, my cutest student and I shall room together!" Gai announced with fervor.
"Thanks Gai-sensei. Wait, doesn't that leave me with-"
'Make the best of it Sakura, make the best of it.'
Rooming with Neji was a better (or quieter) alternative to doing so with Lee or Gai but had the potential to be considerably more awkward.
Thinking of the snoring was the decision clincher and Sakura threw caution to the wind.
"C'mon Neji-san, lets go set up our room. You can have the couch."
Later, after some arguing about sleeping arrangements which led to no real solutions, Sakura was struck with the urge to explore the inn in an attempt to alleviate the trials of the day.
The bar, she noticed, sounded promising as well.
When she knocked on the door of Lee and Gai she learned from a note that they had already gone to explore the inn and, possibly, the bar.
This gave Sakura further resolve to go to the bar since Lee needed someone to make sure he didn't drink alcohol and she doubted Gai would be much help.
She shrugged and peeked into her own room.
"Neji-san, I'm going to meet Lee and Gai. They're probably in the bar, wanna come?
Neji looked to their room and back, contemplating the pros and cons of attending a bar on a mission before following her when she began heading to the bar.
"I'll come. Someone has to restrain Lee."
"Don't tell me you doubt my strength." Sakura grinned and held up a small but toned bicep.
Neji smirked back at her. "Would you try to punch me if I said I didn't?"
"Depends."
Neji shrugged and started heading inside the bar "You couldn't hurt me anyway."
"Hey! Neji-san," Sakura whined, following him.
She could have been offended by his comment had she not been used to his arrogance from former missions and other less frequent encounters.
"Fine, since fighting on a mission is out of the question how 'bout we settle who's stronger a different way."
Neji raised an eyebrow, smirk still in place. "What do you propose?"
Sakura looked at Neji and let a slow grin form on her face.
"Drinking!"
She was no where near as bad as her sensei, Tsunade, when it came to alcohol but she did indulge on occasion and the Hokage wasn't the only one who sought her out for her hangover remedies.
Neji frowned at her. "Drinking?"
"Yup."
"We're on a mission."
"I know."
Not to back down from a challenge the smirk that had disappeared at the mention of alcohol reformed. "Fine, but this doesn't get mentioned on mission report."
Sakura nodded vehemently, imagining the look on her sensei's face if she found out that Sakura had destroyed a forest for no reason and taken the time to get drunk on a mission.
Sakura stopped bobbing her head when she noticed the weird look Neji was giving her.
"Not that look again! I'm not that odd, I mean look at Naruto. Tsunade-sama's scarey though."
"Tsunade-sama's what? Never mind, at least with Naruto, once you get used to him you can usually tell what he's thinking. You're just weird."
Sakura smiled at the thought of her blonde roommate, carefully ignoring the latter of Neji's comments, as the two went to join Lee and Gai at the bar.
"Yah, always thinking something dumb and brave, that's Naruto."
Sakura sat down at the bar, greeting Gai and Lee who had yet to order a drink, and carefully slipped a bill to the bartender, subtly asking him not to give drinks to Lee - the results would definitely be more expensive than the man and his bar could afford.
Sakura turned to Neji and smiled triumphantly. "Ok! Let's drink!"
"If this is how you're acting now I don't think I want to see you drunk."
"Hey, I bet I can hold my liquor longer than you!"
Sakura ordered sake for herself and Neji from the bartender and when Neji was handed the drinks she casually put her hands where they couldn't be seen, under the table, and performed a set of simple seals.
She concentrated her chakra and murmured quietly. "Dame no Jutsu!"
Smiling with evil intent the kunoichi reflected on her genius plan.
"Okay phase 1: perform anti-intoxicated jutsu complete. Now on to phase 2 where Neji gets drunk and I stay as sober as I began."
"Are you sure you're not already drunk, Haruno?"
Sakura turned to the Hyuuga and cocked her head. "No, why?"
"You're chuckling for no reason. Get a grip."
Sakura glared and turned to her drink. "I'm fine."
"Like I said, you're weird," Neji replied, taking a long drink of his sake.
Neji finished and ordered more sake, although Sakura noticed the only thing that had changed about his demeanor was his smirk and slight glare in her direction, which had intensified.
She was about to respond with a swig of her own when Rock Lee, who had been taking lessons from Gai on proper etiquette around women, interrupted.
Sakura-san are you going to be alright if you drink a lot of sake? We are on a mission.
The kunoichi in question smiled at Lee's concern. "Yah Lee, I'll be fine."
"Alright! If you insist on partaking in such I too shall take part Sakura-san!
Gai nodded sadly at his students sacrifice. "Allow me to join you in your youthful experimentation, my students! I shall become mentor to your young admiration of sake."
"Um, wait that's not really necessary Lee-kun, Gai-sensei, I'm sure I'll be fine. I am a medic-nin, I can deal with a little sake."
Neji, who had been watching the exchange with mild alarm, chose to speak. "Lee, you can't get drunk. Do you remember last time?"
Lee looked down for a moment, before looking back up with fire in his eyes. "Indeed. I apologize Sakura-san but I am unable to join you! However, as compensation I shall perform with brilliance to match that of Neji, tomorrow!"
"Uh, sure, sounds good Lee-kun."
Lee winked at her and gave her a thumbs up before leaving the bar, apparently to go rest up so he could perform to the best of his abilities the next day.
Sakura puzzled for a moment over the hardworking anomaly that was Lee before shrugging and taking her interrupted swig of sake.
Neji retaliated with his own drink and their competition became a staring contest as well. After more than numerous drinks on both sides even Sakura with her anti-intoxication jutsu was feeling slightly woozy.
The jutsu was originally intended for dispelling poison but had proven mostly useless, an additional quirk on the name. She'd found it on one of her many scours of medical records and discovered that it was quite useful for lowering the effects of alcohol. She had recommended it to Tsunade who declined, saying that using the jutsu would defeat the purpose of drinking in the first place, before discovering how useful it could be in drinking contests.
Neji took another hesitant drink and leaned slightly to the left. Apparently, even ninja of ANBU caliber could be beaten by a simple liquid.
"Done yet?"
Sakura, who remained mostly sober, grinned menacingly before replying. "Why Neji-san I've barely begun.
Sakura shifted in her chair, deviously thinking about revealing questions the Hyuuga would answer willingly while drunk.
"So Neji-san, uh, what's your type of girl?"
Neji narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the girl. "You don't seem very drunk, Haruno."
Sakura smirked. "Well that's because I am excellent at holding my liquor. Sorry Neji-san."
Sakura in no way looked sorry and she most definitely wasn't.
Playing with a drunk Neji reminded her kind of eerily of days back with team 7 when they would try to take Kakashi's mask off.
Of course now she was the one instigating the fun, not Naruto and she was not inclined to agree with a nonexistent Sasuke when he argued against any unprofessional form of play.
"You'd be cute Haruno, if you weren't so weird."
Brought back to reality, Sakura blushed crimson and glowered at the smirking Hyuuga. Of course the smirk was lopsided and his eyes were alight with the effects of alcohol, but that was not a comment often heard from a sober and bigheaded Neji and Sakura figured that she at least, could have the decency to blush for both of them.
"Embarrassed?"
"You should be too. Don't say things like that, it's wrong."
"Don't have a very high opinion of yourself, do you?"
"Never mind c'mon lets go sleep. I won the drinking contest by the way."
Neji chose not to reply and gave Sakura a grim reception when she attempted to help him to their room. She immediately shrugged indifferently and walked away, while Neji followed in a slightly less coordinated fashion.
When they reached their room they were faced with an even more troubling decision which Sakura eagerly decided to solve.
"So, Neji-san, floor or chair?"
Chapter 3- End
Chapter 3! I apologize for the very late update but I went away on vacation (I'm still on vacation but I found a computer). The anti-drunk jutsu Sakura used is just translated to useless jutsu. Thanks for reading and for those of you who commented!
-Onyx angel